Hand-held implement for cleaning smooth surfaces

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hand-held unit (200) for cleaning smooth surfaces and for squeegeeing liquid. The hand-held unit is made up of a cleaning unit (230) with a handle (234) and a wiper plate (238) as well as of a squeegeeing unit (232) with a rear stop (252) of the squeegeeing unit (232). A handle (236) of the squeegeeing unit (232) can be pushed telescopically into a tubular handle (234) of the cleaning unit (230) until a stop edge (252) of the squeegeeing unit strikes against a front stop edge (242) of the wiper plate (238). The two units (230, 232) can be held, by at least one latching and/or frictionally locking connection, in the position in which they are pushed one inside the other to provide the hand-held unit (200), and can be released from one another by hand. Consequently, for the connection of the two units (230, 232), there is no need for any additional shaping or parts which obstruct the combined or separate handling of the units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a hand-held implement for cleaning smoothsurfaces and for removing with a squeegee member washing liquid fromsuch surfaces in accordance with the preamble of Patent Claim 1.

Hand-held implements of this generic type are known from U.S. Pat. No.3,110,052, U.S. Pat. No. 5,083,338, or International ("P.C.T") PatentApplication Publication No. WO 93/8725. They make it possible to cleanand dry smooth surfaces in one operation, because the cleaning memberand the squeegee member are arranged at the front end of the hand-heldimplement. The cleaning member and the squeegee member frequentlycomprise a cleaning pad and a squeegee. The cleaning pad serves, interalia, for absorbing the washing liquid when the latter is squeegeeddownwards on the smooth surface in order as far as possible to avoidsoiling of surfaces which bound the smooth surface at the bottom end,e.g. a window frame. The known hand-held implements may be equipped witha handle in order that the user can also reach and clean more remotespots on the surface which is to be cleaned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to improve a hand-held implement of saidknown generic type in order to provide a hand-held implement which isextremely compact, streamlined, can be handled optimally during use, andin the case of which the cleaning member and the squeegee member arearranged one behind the other at one end of the hand-held implement andcan be used together, but also separately from one another as anindependent unit in each case, the means for the releasable connectionof the cleaning unit and squeegee unit being barely visible, or notvisible at all, and not having an adverse effect on the handling of theunits. In this arrangement, said virtually invisible connecting meansare to permit secure connection of the two units, but, nevertheless, areto ensure that the two units can be separated easily by hand.

The invention achieves this object by the features in the characterizingpart of Patent Claim 1.

Since the cleaning member and the squeegee member are arranged directlybehind one another at the same end, as is the case for thenon-dismantleable units of said known generic type, the hand-heldinstrument permits approximately simultaneous washing-down andsqueegeeing of surfaces which are to be cleaned. It is likewise possibleto separate the two units by hand in a simple manner, with the resultthat, if required, the cleaning unit and squeegee unit can be usedsimultaneously, but independently of one another, e.g. even by twopeople.

According to a first embodiment of the hand-held implement of theinvention, the squeegee unit is inserted, by means of a lateralengagement part, in the lateral receiving part until a front squeegeemount for a squeegee-lip-retaining guide rail of the squeegee unitstrikes against a front edge of the wiper plate of the cleaning unit.The two units are then connected to one another in a releasable mannerby the insertion of a locking cone into ends of the handles, locatedcoaxially one inside the other, of the two units, these ends beinglocated coaxially one behind the other and forming a common, conicallocking opening towards the inside. This creates a connection betweenthe two units which is positively locking in the axial direction of thehand-held implement and is secured by the locking cone in the directiontransverse with respect to the longitudinal axis of the hand-heldimplement.

In the case of a second embodiment of the hand-held implement accordingto the invention, the handle of the squeegeeing unit is pushed with asliding fit into a front plug-in opening of the hollow handle of thecleaning unit until its front squeegee mount strikes against the frontedge of the wiper plate of said cleaning unit, and the handle of thesqueegee unit, in its end position, is connected in a releasable mannerto that of the cleaning unit by a latching device which is providedbetween the two handles.

In the case of a third embodiment of the handle-held implement accordingto the invention, a latching device is once again provided between thehollow handles of the two units. In this arrangement, the inner end of aconical opening in the handle of the cleaning unit bounds the push-inpath for the handle of the squeegee unit.

In the case of a fourth embodiment of the hand-held implement accordingto the invention, the handle of the squeegee unit is once again pushedin telescopically until the squeegee mount of the same strikes againstthe washer plate, in which case, in the push-in end position of thesqueegee unit, the releasable connection of the latter to the cleaningunit is provided by at least one latching device and/or at least onefrictionally locking connection. In this arrangement, the latchingdevice can be formed by latching lugs on the front edge of the washerplate of the cleaning unit, latching recesses in the squeegee mount ofthe squeegee unit corresponding to said latching lugs. The frictionallylocking connection may comprise a clamping groove/clamping tongueconnection between the cleaning head and the squeegee head of the twounits.

Furthermore, a frictionally locking connection may be provided betweenthe squeegee head of the cleaning unit and the cleaning head of thecleaning unit, in the case of which the upper side of the cleaning headforms a wedge-action run-on surface for the underside of the squeegeehead, by means of which the squeegee head is raised slightly, before thesqueegee unit reaches the push-in end position in the cleaning unit, inorder that the upper side of the handle of the squeegee unit is pressedwith frictional locking against the upper side of the inner wall in thefront end of the handle of the cleaning unit, it being possible torelease said frictional locking by hand.

The invention further embodies advantageously the features in thesubclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with reference tothe schematic drawing of a number of exemplary embodiments of ahand-held implement, in which drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a hand-held implement in a partiallybroken-away plan view, a cleaning unit and a squeegee unit beingconnected to one another in a releasable manner;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the hand-held implement according to FIG. 1,in a partially broken-away representation;

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the cleaning unit of the hand-held implementaccording to FIGS. 1 and 2, the cleaning unit having been separated fromthe squeegee unit;

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the squeegee unit of the hand-heldimplement according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the squeegee unit having beenseparated from the cleaning unit;

FIG. 5 shows a vertical center longitudinal section V--V of the cleaningunit in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows a center longitudinal section VI--VI of the squeegee unitin FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a side view of a locking member;

FIG. 8 shows an end view, from the left, of the locking member in FIG.7;

FIG. 9 shows a cross-section IX--IX of the assembled hand-held implementin FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 shows a further cross-section X--X of the assembled hand-heldimplement in FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 shows a perspective, partially broken-away view of a secondembodiment of a hand-held implement according to the invention, theimplement being in a partially assembled state;

FIG. 12 shows a center longitudinal section, approximately along thesection line XII--XII, of the cleaning unit in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 shows a side view of the squeegee unit of the hand-heldimplement shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 shows a side view, partially in a center longitudinal section,of a third embodiment of a hand-held implement according to theinvention, the implement being in the assembled state;

FIG. 15 shows a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a hand-heldimplement according to the invention, in a partially broken-awayrepresentation;

FIG. 16 shows a vertical center longitudinal section XVI--XVI of thehand-held implement in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 shows a longitudinal section XVII--XVII of the hand-heldimplement in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 shows a cross-section XVIII--XVIII of the hand-held implement inFIG. 15;

FIG. 19 shows a perspective bottom view of the hand-held implementaccording to FIGS. 15 to 18, the squeegee unit having been pushedpartially into the cleaning unit;

FIG. 20 shows a plan view of the cleaning unit of the hand-heldimplement in FIG. 15;

FIG. 21 shows a plan view of the squeegee unit of the hand-heldimplement in FIG. 15;

FIG. 22 shows a bottom view of the squeegee unit of the hand-heldimplement in FIG. 15;

FIG. 23 shows a side view of the squeegee unit according to FIGS. 21 and22; and

FIG. 24 shows a side view of the cleaning unit according to FIG. 20.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Represented in the figures are various embodiments of the hand-heldimplement which serves to clean smooth surfaces and to squeegee liquidfrom said surfaces. A cleaning member and a squeegee member for liquidare arranged at the front end of the handle. According to the invention,the cleaning member is assigned to a cleaning unit, which is providedwith a handle, and the squeegee member is assigned to a squeegee unit,which likewise exhibits a handle. The cleaning unit and the squeegeeunit can be used independently of one another, but can also be connectedto one another in a releasable manner to produce the hand-heldimplement, such that said hand-held implement can be used to clean orwash down surfaces and to squeegee the liquid, in particular, washing orcleaning liquid, approximately simultaneously, or else, once theconnection between the cleaning unit and the squeegee unit has beenreleased, each of said two units can be used alone.

A first embodiment of such a hand-held implement 20 is shown in FIGS. 1to 10. According to FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning member 22 and a squeegeemember 24 for liquid are arranged horizontally at the front end 26 of ahandle 28, transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof.The cleaning member 22 is assigned to a cleaning unit 30, which isproduced from plastic, and the squeegee member 24 is assigned to asqueegeeing unit 32, which likewise consists of plastic, it beingpossible to use said two units when they have been connected to oneanother in a releasable manner and thus also when they are separate.Extending between the cleaning unit 30, which is at the bottom in FIG.2, and the squeegee unit 32, which is arranged thereabove, is a curvedparting plane T which runs essentially horizontally some way above acenter longitudinal axis of the hand-held implement 20 and in whichmutually corresponding parts of the cleaning unit 30 and of the squeegeeunit 32 lie against one another or engage one inside the other when saidunits are in the assembled state, with the result that, when they havebeen assembled to form the hand-held implement 20 in FIGS. 1 and 2, thetwo units 30, 32 are blocked in an essentially positively locking mannerboth in the longitudinal direction and transversely with respect to thelongitudinal direction of the hand-held implement 20 and are connectedto one another in a releasable manner at the rear end of the handle 28by means of a locking device 55 in FIG. 2.

It can further be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that, in front of a rear end21 of the handle 28, the parting plane T is cut, at T1, downwards andforwards into the handle 28 from the smooth upper side 27 of thehand-held implement 20. The parting plane T then runs horizontally, atan obtuse angle with respect to the incision T1, in the transversedirection of the handle, but forwards and slightly obliquely downwardsin longitudinal direction of the handle 28, corresponding to the mainaxis thereof. In this arrangement, the parting plane T separates abottom handle 34 and a front cleaning head 23 of the cleaning unit 30from a handle 36, which is located thereabove, and a squeegee head 25 ofthe squeegee unit 32 and terminates in a stop edge 42, directedtransversely with respect to the longitudinal direction of the hand-heldimplement 20, of the cleaning head 23 (FIG. 3). Said stop edge 42 of thecleaning head 23 rests against a cross-sectionally hook-like stop strip52, which is drawn back in the rearwards direction, of the squeegee head25 (FIGS. 2 and 6), with the result that the two units 30, 32 areclosely connected to one another at the front. Said stop strip 52 isprovided integrally on the underside of a tubular squeegee mount 46 forthe squeegee member 24, which mount forms a front end of the squeegeehead 25, in the transverse direction of the hand-held implement 20, andextends over the width of said head. However, if desired, the squeegeemount 46 may also extend fully beyond the two sides of the squeegee head25. The handle 36 of the squeegee unit 32 is provided, on the twomutually opposite sides of its rear end, with laterally projecting webs35, 37, which make it easier to separate the two units 30, 32.

According to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5, the carrier for the cleaning member 22comprises a wiper plate 38 which, as an integral constituent part of thefront end of the handle 34 of the cleaning unit 30, which handle issmooth on the underside, is fastened horizontally and transversely withrespect to the longitudinal direction of said cleaning unit and thefront edge 40 of which is designed at least partially as the stop edge42 (FIG. 3). The stop edge 42 of the wiper plate 38 is formed by aright-angled cutout 44 in the front edge 40 of the wiper plate 38 andis, accordingly, set back with respect to the front edge 40, parallel tothe same. The cutout 44 is provided midway along the width of the wiperplate 38. If appropriate, however, a plurality of cutouts 44 may also beprovided in order to form a plurality of stop edges 42 which aredistributed over the width of the wiper plate 38 and to which acorresponding number of hook-shaped stop strips 52 on the squeegee head25 are assigned.

According to FIG. 2, the wiper plate 38 has, on its underside, a flat,wide transverse groove 39 in which a touch-and-close fastener strip 41may be arranged, for example by the use of bonding or screwing, it beingpossible for a cleaning pad 43 to be fastened on the underside of saidfastener strip such that it can be exchanged. However, fastening meansother than the touch-and-close fastener strip, for example a rail withpress fasteners or the like, may also be considered. The cleaning pad 43may consist of a pile fabric which is sewn around a foam core. However,the cleaning pad may also comprise cores with different combinations ofpolyurethane/viscose or the like encased by pile fabric, nonwovens, etc.The shaping of the foam core gives an improved bearing surface on thesurface which is to be cleaned. Moreover, the foam core stores liquid,with the result that it is possible to clean large surface areas. Inaddition, it is also possible to provide other cleaning pads, e.g.viscose sponges. The simple fastening ensures easy exchange of thecleaning pad.

According to FIGS. 2, 4 and 6, the tubular, cross-sectionallyhorseshoe-shaped squeegee mount 46 forms the carrier for the squeegeemember 24. The squeegee mount 46 is provided, along a surface line, withthe at least one stop strip 52 for the stop edge 42 of the wiper plate38 of the cleaning unit 30 in FIG. 3. As has been mentioned, the stopstrip 52 is directed obliquely downwards and towards the rear end of thecleaning unit 30 in a cross-sectionally hook-shaped manner, with theresult that surface of the stop strip 52 which faces the rear end of thehand-held implement 20 forms an abutment for the stop edge 42 of thewiper plate 38 of the cleaning unit 30 when the cleaning unit 30 andsqueegee unit 32 are combined to produce the hand-held implement 20.

According to FIG. 6, the opening of the cross-sectionallyhorseshoe-shaped profile of the squeegee mount 46 is formed by alongitudinal slit 50, which is directed obliquely forwards anddownwards. A guide rail 48, which has a clamp-like profile and consistsof metal or plastic, is pushed into the tubular squeegee mount 46, theguide rail being retained in a frictionally locking manner, such that itcan be exchanged, by latching tabs (not shown) or by adhesive bonding.The guide rail 48 engages around a significant part of the upper sideand the rear edge, and a smaller part of the underside, of a squeegeeinglip 54 which is made of elastic material, preferably rubber or plastic,and may have a transverse profile which is adapted to the guide rail 48.The squeegeeing lip 54 serves in the known manner for squeegeeingcleaning or washing liquid from a smooth surface of any objects, such aswindow panes, facades, etc., which is to be cleaned.

Furthermore, the connection between the handles 34, 36 of the cleaningunit 30 and of the squeegeeing unit 32 comprises a plug-in connection 56(FIG. 2), by means of which the cleaning unit 30 and the squeegee unit32 can be fixed in an essentially positively locking manner in the axialdirection. According to FIG. 5, the plug-in connection 56 is made up ofa lateral receiving part 58 in the handle 34 of the cleaning unit 30 andof a lateral engagement part 60 in the handle 36 of the squeegee unit 32(FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6). The receiving part 58 in the handle 34 of thecleaning unit 30 and the engagement part 60 of the handle 36 of thesqueegeeing unit 32 extend over part of the length of their associatedhandles 34, 36 and are each assigned to the rear half of the handle 34or 36 of the cleaning unit 30 and of the squeegee unit 32, respectively.In the present exemplary embodiment, the receiving part 58 is providedin the upper side 62 of the cleaning unit 30, and the engagement part 60is provided in an underside 64 of the squeegee unit 32 (FIGS. 3 and 4).The receiving part 58 in the upper side 62 of the cleaning unit 30comprises a hollow 66 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which is U-shaped or semicircularin the cross-section of the handle 34 of the cleaning unit 30 (FIG. 10).Said hollow 66 of the receiving part 58 extends, in the longitudinaldirection of the cleaning unit 30, over a length which is dimensioned tobe greater than the width of the U-shaped hollow 66. Over its entirelength, the U-shaped hollow 66 is tapered conically at a specific coneangle in the direction of the front end of the cleaning unit 30 at 68(FIG. 3). The significance of the said conical tapering 68 is explainedbelow.

According to FIGS. 3 and 5, as seen in vertical center longitudinaldirection, a front end side 70 of a securing device 100 and a rear endside 72 of a locking sleeve 77 of the cleaning unit 30 enclose an acuteangle, which opens towards the upper side 62 of the cleaning unit 30,and at least partially bound the hollow 66 of the receiving part 58 ofthe cleaning unit 30. The front and rear end sides 70, 72 of the hollow66 of the cleaning unit 30 each form a stop for a front and a rear endside 74, 76 of the engagement part 60 of the squeegee unit 32 (FIGS. 4and 6).

As has been mentioned above, the cleaning unit 30 and the squeegee unit32 form a constituent part of the locking device 55 (FIG. 2), by meansof which the connection of the cleaning unit 30 and the squeegee unit 32to one another to form the hand-held implement 20 represented in FIGS. 1and 2 can be maintained. More precise details of said locking device 55are explained herebelow.

According to FIG. 3, the rear end of the handle 34 of the cleaning unit30 comprises a locking sleeve 77, which exhibits a through-opening 78 inthe essentially axial direction. Said axial opening 78 is taperedconically towards the front and is bounded at the rear by an end 79 andat the front by the abovementioned end side 72 of the locking sleeve 77.

According to FIG. 6, the engagement part 60 is a conical body which,over its entire length, projects, with approximately two thirds of itscross-sectional dimension, beyond the underside 64 or parting plane T ofthe squeegee unit 32, but is produced integrally with the handle 36 ofthe latter. At its rear end side 76, the engagement part 60 exhibits anaxial recess 80 (FIGS. 4, 6) which tapers conically towards the frontand is closed off there by a base 81 (FIG. 6). The base 81 is arrangedat a distance behind the front end side 74 of the engagement part 60. Arear opening 82 of the recess 80 is bounded by the rear end side 76 ofthe engagement part 60 and the handle 36 of the squeegeeing unit 32.

The cone angle of the axial opening 78 in the locking sleeve 77 and ofthe recess 80 in the engagement part 60 are approximately identical.Consequently, when the hand-held implement 20 is in the assembled state,the axial opening 78 in the locking sleeve 77 and the recess 80 in theengagement part 60 together form a locking opening 84 as constituentpart of the locking device 65. Said locking opening 84 is indicated bydotted lines in FIG. 2 and serves to received a locking member as thesecond constituent part of the locking device 55. Said locking membercomprises a locking bolt 86 which, in FIGS. 1 and 2, is inserted intosaid locking opening 84.

According to FIGS. 2, 7 and 8, the locking bolt 86 is in a conical form,which approximately corresponds to the locking opening 84, and, at itsrear end, it has a grip part 88 which has widened diameter and isroughened by hurling 90 or the like on the outside in order to improvethe grip. Provided in the grip part 88 is a central plug-in opening 92,the wall of which is provided with an internal thread 94 into which anauxiliary device can be screwed. Said auxiliary device may comprise anextension shaft and/or a joint, each of which, if required, may beplugged or screwed into the plug-in opening 92 of the locking bolt 86.The locking bolt 86 and the locking opening 84 are of a slightly ovalshape in cross-section or are provided with longitudinal ribs (notshown) in order to ensure that the locking bolt 86 is fitted in a fixed,but releasable manner in the locking opening 84. However, the lockingbolt 86 may also be provided with a partially or wholly formed thread orannular beads or part of a bayonet closure or a conventional latchingconnection in order, when the cleaning unit and squeegee unit areattached, to engage or latch into a corresponding mating thread or intoannular beads of the squeegee unit and cleaning unit.

According to FIG. 3, the handle 34 of the cleaning unit 30 has adish-shaped depression 96 in front of its receiving part 58 and isprovided with at least a first part 98 of the abovementioned securingdevice 100 (FIGS. 5 and 9). Said first part 98 of the securing device100 interacts with a second part 102 of the securing device 100 on thesqueegee unit 32 in order to prevent guidance between the squeegee unit32 and cleaning unit 30. The securing device 100 comprises one or moregroove/tongue connections, which are explained hereinbelow.

It can be seen, in particular, from FIGS. 3 to 6 and 9 that saidgroove/tongue connection is provided in a mutual arrangement between thehandles 34, 36 of the cleaning unit 30 and squeegee unit 32. Thus, theupper side 62 of the front longitudinal half of the handle 34 of thecleaning unit 30 exhibits the dish-shaped depression 96 which, in thelongitudinal direction of the cleaning unit 30, forms a U-shapedlongitudinal groove 104 which extends forwards and upwards from a frontend 106 of the receiving part 58 to the upper side of the cleaning head23. The two legs of said U-shaped longitudinal groove 104 are formed byhandle walls 108, 110. Three locking ribs 112, 114, 116 projectvertically upwards from the base of said longitudinal groove 104, theribs extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the handle 34 andreinforcing the latter. Together with the handle walls 108, 110, thelocking ribs 112, 114, 116 form four locking grooves 118, 120, 122, 124of the same width. The height of the locking ribs 112, 114, 116corresponds to that of the upper longitudinal edge 126, 128, curvedupwards in a slightly arcuate manner, of the mutually opposite,longitudinally extending handle walls 108, 110. Since the U-shapedlongitudinal groove 104 terminates on the upper side 27 of the cleaninghead 23, the longitudinal groove 104 tapers in that the inner side 130,132 of the handle walls 108, 110 intersect with the outer sides of theouter locking ribs 112 and 116 at the front end of the dish-shapeddepression 96 (FIG. 3).

According to FIGS. 4 and 9, the mating piece for the front lengthsection of the handle 34 of the cleaning unit 30 is formed by theunderside 64 of the handle 36 of the squeegee unit 32. Said underside 64of the squeegee unit 32 is provided with a hollowing 134 (FIGS. 6 and 9)in that length section of the handle 36 which is located in front of theengagement part 60. The hollowing 134, in turn, forms a longitudinalgroove 136 with an upside-down U-profile, four locking ribs 138, 140,142, 144 projecting vertically downwards, parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the handle 36 and at a distance from one another, from the base137 of said longitudinal groove 136 (FIG. 9). Said four locking ribs138, 140, 142, 144 of the squeegee unit 32 serve to reinforce thesqueegee handle 36 and form three locking grooves 146, 148, 150 of thesame width, these grooves being dimensioned to be slightly larger thanthe width of the three locking ribs 112, 114, 116 of the cleaning unit30. Consequently, the three locking ribs 112, 114, 116 of the cleaningunit 30 can engage into the three locking grooves 146, 148, 150 of thesqueegee unit 32. At the same time, the four locking ribs 138, 140, 142,144 of the squeegee unit 32 engage into the four locking grooves 118,120, 122, 124 of the cleaning unit 30 when the two units 30, 32 arecombined with one another, by plugging them laterally one inside theother, to form the compact hand-held implement 20. It can be seen thatthe above-described locking grooves and locking ribs reduce the outlayin terms of material, and thus the weight, for the two units 30, 32,but, at the same time, in addition to the above-mentioned handlereinforcement, ensure stable alignment and connection of the units 30,32 over their entire length. Of course, the number of locking ribs andlocking grooves may vary, for example depending on the selected overalldimensions of the hand-held implement 20. Furthermore, the shape of theinterengaging elements of the two units 30, 32 may also be modified ifappropriate.

According to FIGS. 4 and 6, the two central locking ribs 140, 142 of thesqueegee unit 32 extend up to the front end side 74 of the engagementpart 60. In this engagement, lower longitudinal edges 152, 154 of saidtwo central locking ribs 140, 142 are arranged on a rear length section,corresponding approximately to three quarters of the length of saidlocking ribs 140, 142, essentially parallel to a bottom surface line 156of the conical engagement part. 60 (FIG. 6), but are offset upwards asregards their level with respect to the bottom surface line 156 of theengagement part 60. The height of the locking ribs 140, 142 decreasesmore and more over the base of the upside-down U-shaped longitudinalgroove 136 in the squeegee handle 36 until they reach the level of theunderside 64, which defines the parting plane T, of the handle 36.

The two outer locking ribs 138 and 144 of the squeegeeing unit 32 are ofshorter dimensions towards the rear and, at their rear end, only extendto a fillet 158 of the longitudinal groove 104 (FIG. 4), into which thefront end side 74 emerges, as FIG. 6 shows, the rear end edges 160, 162of said locking ribs being bevelled downwards and forwards. Lowerlongitudinal edges 164, 166 of said outer locking ribs 138, 144 run at alower level than the lower longitudinal edges 152, 154 of the centralpair of locking ribs 140, 142, but parallel thereto over a rear half oftheir length. At a correspondingly earlier stage, the two outer lockingribs 138, 144 are angled off to be level with the underside of thesqueegee head 25 and terminate, as do the two central locking ribs 140,142, in a front, filleted end surface 168 (FIG. 4) of the upside-downU-shaped longitudinal groove 104 [sic] of the squeegeeing unit 32.

It should be emphasized that, according to FIG. 3, the rear end of thecentral locking ribs 114 of the cleaning unit 30 projects rearwardsbeyond the rear ends of the adjacent locking ribs 112, 116 and, as hasbeen mentioned, forms, as a front end side 70 of the receiving part 58in the cleaning unit 30, a stop for the front end side 74 of theengagement part 60 of the squeegee unit 32 in FIG. 4. Consequently, thecleaning unit 30 and the squeegee unit 32 are connected to one anotherin a firm, but releasable manner as a combined hand-held implement 20when the locking ribs and locking grooves of the two units 30, 32 engagefully one inside the other and are locked by the locking bolt 86. It isthus evident that the locking ribs and the locking grooves of thecleaning unit 30 and of the squeegee unit 32 form locking elements andthe receiving openings thereof. If required, such locking elements maynaturally also be present in the form of at least one bolt and aprovided for this purpose at least one receiving opening in the units30, 32, because it is only the axial and lateral securing of the twounits which is essential when said units are assembled together toproduce the hand-held implement 20. For this reason, if appropriate, thereceiving part 58 and the engagement part 60 may also be configured as alatching connection by means of which the two units 30, 32 are heldtogether, because, for this purpose, all that is required is for thoseend sides or longitudinal sides of the receiving part 58 and theengagement part 60 which are located opposite one another when the twounits 30, 32 are in the assembled state to be equipped with mutuallycorresponding latching elements.

The above description of the hand-held implement 20 illustrates thatsaid implement can be used, for example, as a window wiper in which thesqueegee member 24 serves as a water squeegee and the cleaning member 22serves as a window-cleaning means.

In this arrangement, the two units can be firmly connected to oneanother by means of the conical locking bolt 86 to produce the singlehand-held implement 20 and can be separated again into two separateunits 30, 32 by unscrewing the locking bolt 86. Since the locking bolt86 is provided with the internal thread or the like at the rear end, anextension and/or a joint can be screwed into said internal thread ifrequired. The locking bolt 86 may be screwed into the squeegee unit 32or into the cleaning unit 30 alone and also my be screwed into thehand-held implement 20 made up of these two units 30, 32. Since, in thecase of said assembled hand-held implement 20, the squeegee lip 54 andthe cleaning pad 43 are located on the underside of the hand-heldimplement 20, the surface which is to be cleaned, e.g. a window, may bewashed and dried in one operation. The cleaning liquid, such as water,produced during usage of the squeegee unit 32 is absorbed again by thecleaning pad 43.

A second embodiment of the hand-held implement 200 according to theinvention is illustrated in FIG. 11, this showing a connection of acleaning unit 230 to a squeegee unit 232 which differs from the firstembodiment.

A handle 228 of the hand-held implement 200 is made up of an outer,tubular handle 234 of the cleaning unit 230, the front end 226 of which,as in the previous embodiment, widens increasingly towards the front andis designed integrally with a transversely extending wiper plate 238. InFIG. 11, a preferably hollow, tubular handle 236 of the squeegee unit232 is partially pushed coaxially into the tubular handle 234 of thecleaning unit 230. In the event of a further push-in movement of thesqueegee unit 232, a rearwardly and downwardly directed stop strip 252(not shown in any more detail in FIG. 11) of a squeegee mount strikes,as in the case of the above-described, first embodiment, against acentrally arranged stop edge 242, which is set back in parallel withrespect to a front edge 240 of the wiper plate 238.

A latching device (not shown in FIG. 11), which is described in moredetail hereinbelow with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14, is provided betweenthe outer surface of the tubular handle 236 of the squeegee unit 232 andthe inner surface of a cylindrical cavity 201 of the tubular handle 234of the cleaning unit 230, which latching device takes effect at the samemoment at which the squeegee unit 232 has reached its full,above-described push-in end position in the handle 234 of the cleaningunit 230. In this arrangement, the latching device is such that thesqueegee unit 232 rests, by means of its stop strip 252, against thefront edge 240 of the wiper plate 238 with a certain degree of axialpre-stress. The magnitude of this pre-stress is such that, even underextreme working conditions in which relatively strong forces are exertedon the combined hand-held implement 200, the described connection, whichis firm but can always be released by hand, between the cleaning unit230 and the squeegee unit 232 remains intact.

According to FIG. 12, the tubular handle 234 of the cleaning unit 230 isprovided with a front, upper cutout 202, which corresponds approximatelyto a third of the overall length of the cavity 201 or of the handle 234.The cutout 202 forms an approximately right-angled parting plane T2 ofthe hand-held implement 200. Said parting plane T2 is first of alldirected vertically until it reaches approximately the centrelongitudinal axis of the cleaning unit 230, and is then directedapproximately horizontally in a soft curve forwards and downwards untilit reaches the front, lower end 204 of a plug-in opening of the cavity201. The parting plane T2 terminates in a bead-shaped end surface 205 ofthe cleaning head 223. The underside of the end surface 205 is connectedintegrally to the wiper plate 238, which is reinforced, on the rearside, with respect to the handle 234 by at least one reinforcement rib206.

According to FIG. 12, the rear end of the cavity 201 is closed off by atransverse wall 207, beyond which the handle 234 extends by means of arear, tubular end 208 which has an increased diameter and in which anaxial opening 209 is provided. Said opening 209 extends to thetransverse wall 207 and is tapered, in the form of a truncated circularcone, towards the transverse wall 207, the inner wall of the opening 209being provided with an internal thread 210. Said axial opening 209serves for the insertion of an auxiliary device, e.g. of an extensionshaft.

As has been mentioned above, the handles 234 and 236 of the cleaningunit 230 and of the squeegee unit 232 form a constituent part of alocking device, which is designed here as a latching device and servesto produce a firm, but releasable connection between the two units whenthe latter has been fully pushed together. With reference to FIGS. 12and 13, said latching device may comprise at least one protrusion, whichis designed in FIG. 12 as an annular latching bead 211 on the inner wallof the cavity 201, which corresponds with an annular latching groove 212on the outer side of the handle 236 of the squeegee unit 232 in FIG. 13.In this arrangement, the axial distance of the latching bead 211 fromthe front edge 240 of the wiper plate 238 and the axial distance of thelatching groove 212 from the stop strip 252 of the cleaning unit 230 areselected such that, when the handle 236 has been fully pushed into thehandle 234, the latching bead 211 exerts axial prestress, by way of thefront edge 240, on the stop strip 252 of the squeegee unit 232 in orderto achieve an axially firm connection between the cleaning unit 230 andthe squeegee unit 232.

In FIG. 13, the squeegee unit 232 is represented with its handle 236 anda squeegee head 225. As shown in a comparison with the cleaning unit 230in FIG. 12, the squeegee head 225 fills the cutout 202 of the handle 234of the cleaning unit 230 to the full extent, this resulting in thecombined hand-held implement 200 having a continuous surface whichensures convenient handling of the hand-held implement.

A third embodiment of a hand-held implement 300 according to theinvention is represented in FIG. 14, in the case of which a partingplane T3, which is positioned at an acute angle to the rear with respectto the longitudinal axis of the cleaning unit 330, is provided betweenthe squeegee unit 332 with squeegee head 325 and the cleaning unit 330with a tubular handle 334. The rear ends both of the tubular handle 334of the cleaning unit 330 and of the tubular handle 336 of the squeegeeunit 332 are open and exhibit conical openings 309 and 310,respectively, which widen towards the rear. An axial, inner annularshoulder 331 is arranged on the inner side of the rear end of the hollowsqueegee handle 334, the rear end of the handle 336 of the squeegeeingunit 332 resting against said shoulder. A latching device 351 similar tothat in FIGS. 12 and 13 takes effect between the handles 334 and 336 ofthe two units 330, 332, and, in FIG. 14, an annular groove is providedin an inner wall 301 and a corresponding annular bead is provided on theouter side of the handle 336 of the squeegee unit 332, and they takeeffect in the manner which has already been described.

The openings 309 and 310 are each provided with an internal thread 311,312 such that, when the two units 330, 332 are in the assembled state,they form a common, axial opening which widens in the form of atruncated circular cone towards the rear end, with the result that it ispossible for a pole-like auxiliary device, such as an extension shaft,to be inserted, and fastened, only in the opening 309 of the cleaningunit 330 or only in the opening 310 of the squeegee unit 332, in orderto use said units individually, or else into the screw-in opening formedin the two units together.

FIGS. 15 to 26 illustrate a fourth, particularly preferred embodiment ofa hand-held implement 400 according to the invention, this containingfurther, releasable means for connecting a cleaning unit 401 to asqueegee unit 402. According to FIGS. 15 and 16, a handle 403 of thehand-held implement 400 is made up of an outer, tubular handle 404 ofthe cleaning unit 401, the front end 405 of which widens increasinglyforwards and downwards, according to FIGS. 20 and 24, as cleaning head406, is designed integrally with a transversely extending wiper plate407, and is provided with an opening 431 at the rear end.

In FIGS. 15 and 16, a tubular handle 408 of the squeegee unit 402 iscoaxially pushed telescopically into the handle 404 of the cleaning unit401. The squeegee unit 402 has a squeegee head 409, the tubular squeegeemount 410 of which, in turn, receives a guide rail 411 for a squeegeelip 412. In this arrangement, the guide rail 411 engages in a flexiblemanner, by means of a central resilient tongue 413, into a front,central recess 414 of the squeegee mount 410 (FIGS. 16 and 22), with theresult that the guide rail 411 with the squeegee lip 412 clamped firmlytherein can be easily exchanged.

In the case of the hand-held implement 400 in FIG. 15, the guide rail411 is located at a short distance in front of a front edge 415 of thewiper plate 407, the transverse profile of said front edge 415 beingadapted to the radius of a cross-sectionally circle-arc-shaped rear edgeof the guide rail 411, as FIG. 24 shows. According to FIGS. 20 and 24,the front edge 415 of the wiper plate 407, in turn, has a right-angledcutout 416 with a parallel stop surface 417, set back axially withrespect to the front edge 415 of the wiper plate 407, for the squeegeemount 410 of the guide rail 411.

In FIGS. 15 to 17 and 18 to 20, a latching device 418 (FIG. 17) isprovided between the outer surface of the handle 408 of the squeegeeunit 402 and the inner surface of the cylindrical cavity of the handle404 of the cleaning unit 401. Said latching device 418 begins to takeeffect just before the moment at which the squeegee unit 402 has reachedits full, above-described push-in end position in the handle 404 of thecleaning unit 401. Consequently, the squeegeeing unit 402 rests, bymeans of its squeegee mount 410, against the stop surface 417 of thewiper plate 407 with a certain degree of axial prestress. The magnitudeof said prestress is such that, even under extreme working conditions inwhich relatively strong forces are exerted on the combined hand-heldimplement 400, the described connection, which is firm but can bereleased by hand, between the cleaning unit 401 and the squeegeeing unit402 remains intact.

It can be seen, in particular, from FIGS. 17, 19 and 20 that twolatching lugs 419, 420 project from the stop surface 417, the underside421 of which latching lugs is in alignment with a touch-and-closefastening strip 41 which is fastened on the underside of the wiper plate407 and has been described in more detail above with reference to FIG.2. An upwardly and rearwardly extending run-on surface 422 at the frontend of the latching lugs 419, 420 is, at the same time, part of anupper, transversely running latching rib 423, which drops rearwards anddownwards into a latching groove 424 parallel to the latching rib 423.The latching groove 424 is bounded on the rear side by the stop surface417 of the cutout 416. The height of the latching lugs 419, 420 extendsto virtually half the height of the front edge 415 or the stop surface417 of the wiper plate 407. Of course, it is also possible to use asmaller or greater number of latching lugs, even of different shaping,instead of the described number of two latching lugs 419, 420.

According to FIGS. 17, 19 and 22, two latching recesses 425, 426 areprovided on the underside of the squeegee mount 410 of the squeegee head409, which latching recesses exhibit dimensions corresponding to thelatching lugs 419, 420 of the cleaning unit 401. The latching recesses425, 426 are provided with a rear boundary edge 427. When the squeegeeunit 402 is pushed axially into the handle 404 of the cleaning unit 401,said boundary edge 427 of the squeegee unit 402 strikes against theoblique run-on surface 422 of the latching lugs 419, 420, before thelatching lugs 419, 420 bend out elastically to latch into the latchingrecesses 425, 426 assigned to them and the two units 401, 402 areconnected in a firm, but releasable manner.

In accordance with this fourth embodiment of the hand-held implement400, there are a number of possible ways to produce the releasableconnection between the two units 401, 402, in an extremely simple mannerand such that said connection is essentially invisible to the user,either in combination with one or more of the above-described fasteningdevices which can be released by hand, e.g. the latching device 418,between the tubular squeegee mount 410 of the squeegee unit 402 and thewiper plate 407 of the cleaning unit 401, or merely with the aid of oneor more frictionally locking or clamping connections directly betweenthe two said units 401, 402. This is because such frictionally lockingconnections which can be released by hand may also be quite sufficienton their own, should this be desired, to connect the two units 401, 402to one another firmly enough, but such that they can be released byhand.

FIGS. 15, 16, 18 to 20 and 22 to 24 show the fourth exemplary embodimentof the hand-held implement 400 according to the invention with a firstembodiment of such a frictionally locking connection. Said frictionallylocking connection is designated by 433 and comprises a clampingtongue/clamping groove connection made up of at least one clampingtongue and of at least one associated clamping groove. Two clampingtongues 434, 435 can be seen in FIGS. 15, 16, 18, 19, 22 and 23, andthese clamping tongues are formed integrally with the squeegee head 409and project vertically from the underside thereof. According to FIG. 22,the axially front end of the clamping tongues 434, 435 are connected, bymeans of a connecting web 436, 437 in each case, to the rear side of thetubular squeegee mount 410 and the underside of the squeegee head 409.Said connecting webs 436, 437 are narrower, and thus more flexible, thanthe clamping tongues 434, 435 and thus impart a desired additionallateral flexibility to the clamping tongues; they have, for example, anaxial length of approximately 2 mm and a width of approximately 1.5 mm,while the width of the free, lower longitudinal edge 438, 439 of theclamping tongues 434, 435 corresponds approximately to 4 mm. Accordingto FIG. 18, the clamping tongues 434, 435 have a transverse profile ofwhich the width is reduced towards the top, from the lower longitudinaledge 438, 439 of each clamping tongue 434, 435, in each case on theirouter side 434a, 435a to a smaller width of, for example, 3 mm. Thiswidening of each cliping tongue 434, 435 extends preferably over only abottom third, e.g. over only 4 mm of their overall height. Furthermore,together with the underside, curved forwards and downwards, of thesqueegee head 409, said surfaces 440, 441, located at a distanceopposite one another, of the two clamping tongues 434, 435 form a centerlongitudinal groove 442 which is open towards the bottom and rear and ofwhich the profile is similar to that of an upside-down U. Said sidesurfaces 440, 441, which form the groove walls of the centerlongitudinal groove 442 and belong to the clamping tongues 434, 435,enclose an acute angle which is open towards the bottom and are directedparallel to the center longitudinal axis of the squeegee unit 402. In acommon plane parallel to the centre longitudinal axis of the squeegeeunit 402, the lower, free longitudinal edges 438, 439 are arranged at alevel which runs at a distance above the latching recesses 425, 426 ofthe tubular squeegee mount 410.

The clamping tongues 434, 435 project freely to the rear from thetubular squeegee mount 410 over a length of, for example, approximately16 mm and have a trapezoidal surface area in side view (FIG. 16). A headwall 443 in FIGS. 16 and 18 which is formed by the underside of thesqueegee head 409 and belongs to the acute-angled center longitudinalgroove 442 open towards the bottom forms an obtuse angle (FIG. 16) witha vertical, planar rear side 444 of the tubular squeegee mount 410 inFIG. 17 to which the front ends of the clamping tongues 434, 435 areconnected.

In FIGS. 16, 19, 22 and 23, the front end 432 of the handle 408 of thesqueegee unit 402 tapers conically and terminates at a short, axialdistance in front of the rear end sides 445 of the clamping tongues 434,435.

In FIGS. 18 and 20, the cleaning unit 401 is provided with two clampinggrooves 446, 447 at the front end of the cutout 429, which encloses aplug-in opening 463, in the centre of the inner wall of the handle 404,said inner wall being approximately U-shaped in cross-section there.Said clamping grooves 446, 447 have a cross-section in the manner of adovetail, that is to say widening towards the groove base, and serve toreceive the cross-sectionally similar clamping tongues 434, 435 of thesqueegee unit 402. The clamping grooves 446, 447 extend on both sidesparallel to a vertical center longitudinal plane of the cleaning unit401 and are separated by a central guide tongue 448 which is providedfor approximately axial engagement into the central, clamping centrelongitudinal groove 442 which is approximately U-shaped upside-down andbelongs to the squeegeeing unit 402. Accordingly, the clamping grooves446, 447 are dimensioned to be slightly longer than the clamping tongues434, 435 and are closed at the rear end. As has been mentioned, the twoclamping grooves 446, 447 are undercut such that outer groove walls 449,450 of the clamping grooves 446, 447, together with the mutuallyparallel side walls of the guide tongue 448 which are located oppositethem, enclose an angle which widens towards the groove base, but becomessmaller towards the rear, closed end of the clamping grooves 446, 447.Consequently, when they are pushed axially into the clamping grooves446, 447, the two clamping tongues 434, 435 of the squeegee unit 402 arepressed to an increasingly pronounced extent against the two sides ofthe guide tongue 448 until a frictionally locking connection which isfirm, but can be released by hand is achieved (FIGS. 20 and 24).

Frictional locking or a clamping fit between the cleaning unit 401 andsqueegee unit 402 may be achieved in addition to the above-describedfrictionally locking connection 433, or else on its own, by a furtherfrictionally locking connection directly between the two units 401, 402.According to FIGS. 15 to 24, said frictionally locking connection can beachieved by frictional locking between a front, upper end 451 of thecentral guide tongue 448 of the cleaning unit 401 and the head wall 443,curved forwards and downwards, of the squeegee head 409, in the centerlongitudinal groove 442 which is open towards the bottom, by anincreasing frictional restraint when the guide tongue 448 of thesqueegeeing unit 402 is pushed into the cleaning unit 401.

A particularly advantageous frictionally locking action between the twounits 401, 402, which connection can be achieved directly, that is tosay without any additional parts, can be realized as is described below:

According to FIGS. 20 and 24, an axially extending, approximatelycylindrical cavity 428 in the handle 404 of the cleaning unit 401 isprovided with a front, upper cutout 429 which corresponds approximatelyto a third of the overall length of the handle 404. Said cutout 429 runsalong a parting plane T4 with respect to the squeegee head 409 of thesqueegee unit 402 in FIG. 23. A first, rear and planar-surface sectionT4a of said parting plane T4 is directed obliquely forwards anddownwards, from the upper side of the handle 404 to the front end of thehand-held implement 400, until it reaches approximately the centerlongitudinal plane of the handle 404, thus encloses, with said centrelongitudinal plane, an obtuse angle which is open towards the top as faras the front end of the handle 404. The vertex of said obtuse angleforms a step 430, after which a second, front section T4b of the partingplane T4 is curved first of all gradually and then to a more pronouncedextent forwards and downwards and runs out into the vertical stopsurface 417 of the cutout 416 of the wiper plate 407.

A border 452 of the underside of the squeegee head 409 in FIGS. 17, 18,19, 22 and 23 naturally corresponds to the contour of a border 453 ofthe cutout 429 of the handle 404 and/or of the upper side of thecleaning head 406 (FIG. 20), with the result that, when the units 401,402 are in the assembled state, the hand-held implement 400 has a smoothsurface in the region of the parting plane T4. According to FIGS. 15 and21, the rear, increasingly narrow and [sic] end of the squeegee head 409is shaped as a nose 455 which is round in plan view. The nose 455 isbounded by a rear end surface 456 which projects obliquely upwards andforwards, in the manner of a truncated-cone cutout, from the cylindricalouter side of the handle 408 of the squeegee unit 402 to a rear, roundupper edge 457 of the nose 455. On the two opposite longitudinal sides,the nose 455 is bounded by mutually parallel, vertical guide surfaces458, 459 which are triangular in side view and of which only theright-hand guide surface 458 can be seen in FIG. 23. The downwardlyprojecting border 452 of the underside of the squeegee head 409 adjoinssaid guide surfaces 458, 459. In the region of the nose 455, the upperside of the squeegee head 409 according to FIGS. 16 and 21 is providedwith a finger depression 460 and a plurality of arrow-shaped grippingribs 461, which make it easier for the frictional locking orclamping-type locking between the cleaning unit 401 and the squeegeeunit 402 to be eliminated by hand.

Corresponding to the described, rearwardly projecting end surface 456 ofthe nose 455 of the squeegee head 409, the border 453 of the cutout 429,which forms the plug-in opening 463 and belongs to the tubular handle404 of the cleaning unit 401, is provided on its upper side with agroove-like chamfer 464 which is directed into the plug-in opening 463(FIG. 24). Said chamfer 464 is directed obliquely rearwards anddownwards into the interior of the handle 408 of the squeegee unit 402and is of a width which corresponds to the distance between the twovertical, axis-parallel guide surfaces 458, 459 in the region of thenose 455 of the squeegee head 409. Consequently, the frustoconical endsurface 456 of the nose 455 can engage fully, by means of its lateralguide surfaces 458, 459, into the plug-in opening 463 of the tubularhandle 404 of the cleaning unit 401, in the region of said chamfer 464,and the nose 455 of the squeegee head 409 can come to rest flush againstthe border 462 of the cutout 429.

In order to achieve frictionally locking connection between the squeegeeunit 402 and cleaning unit 401 when the two units are in the push-in endposition, run-on or frictionally locking surfaces 466, 467 are formed bya border 453, which is curved to the front and rear and encloses theplug-in opening 463 of the cleaning unit 401, of the upper side 454 ofthe cleaning head 406 and the underside, correspondingly curved border452 of the squeegee head 409. For this purpose, the curvature of therear frictionally locking surface 466, which is located in front of avertex which forms a step 465, of the border 453 of the cleaning head406 rises to a level by which frictional locking with the squeegee unit402 is determined. If the two said frictionally locking surfaces 466,467 of the cleaning head 406 and of the squeegee head 409 approach oneanother before the squeegee unit 402 has reached the push-in endposition in the cleaning unit 401, the upper side of a front lengthsection 469, which is located behind the squeegee head 409, of thehandle 408 of the squeegee unit 402 is raised to such a pronouncedextent, and pressed against a front length section 470 on the upper sideof the inner wall of the handle 404 of the cleaning unit 401, that thedesired frictional locking or clamping fit is achieved reliably in eachcase when the two units 401, 402 are in the push-in end position.

The above described latching and frictionally locking connections may,as described, be used either alone or, as represented for the presentfourth embodiment, together with one or more of the describedfrictionally locking connections for the two units 401, 402. When thetwo connecting means are used together, these may be matched to oneanother such that, at the end of the push-in movement of the squeegeeunit, the operator can clearly feel the latching device latching in, orthe frictional locking, if appropriate by the squeegee unit 402 strikingagainst the cleaning unit 401.

FIG. 22 represents a bottom view of the squeegeeing unit 402 with itshollow-cylindrical handle 408 and its squeegee head 409 which, as acomparison with the cleaning unit 401 in FIG. 20 shows, completely fillsthe cutout 429 of the handle 404 of the cleaning unit 401 such that aflush, smooth surface of the combined hand-held implement 400 isproduced. This permits convenient handling of the combined hand-heldimplement 400 as well as separate handling of only the cleaning unit 401or of only the squeegee unit 402, because the means which produce alatching or frictionally locking connection are virtually invisible tothe user and do not require any shaping which obstructs their handling.An auxiliary device, e.g. an extension shaft, may be inserted into arear opening of the handles 404, 408 in FIGS. 23 and 24. The opening inthe handle 404 is designated by 431.

It is, furthermore, evident that the latching connection could merelycomprise latching protrusions which are provided on one of the mutuallyopposite surfaces and interact with depressions which either correspondto the shape of the protrusions or else, as in the case described, latchinto annular grooves or differently shaped latching recesses in theopposite surface.

The above designs of the second, third and fourth embodiments of thehand-held implements 200, 300 and 400 according to the invention showthat the hand-held implement in each case comprises only the associatedcleaning unit and squeegee unit, which can be combined with one anotherto produce the hand-held implement simply by sliding their handlestelescopically one inside the other until the squeegee head strikesagainst the cleaning head and/or by positive locking and/or frictionallocking, and--if it be desired--can also be separated from one anothermerely by separating axially by hand in the direction of the arrow inFIG. 11, the resistance exerted by the releasable connections beingovercome in the process. Furthermore, the invention provides theadvantage that, over their entire length, the two handles have a roundor oval cross-section and thus permit particularly convenient handling,as in the case of cleaning units and squeegeeing units which have beenseparated from one another, it being possible for the surface of thehandles to be contoured in a rib-like manner in order to provide bettergrip and to make it easier to push the handles telescopically relativeto one another.

Finally, it should be mentioned that, according to FIG. 16, the rearends of the tubular, hollow-cylindrical handles 404, 408 of the cleaningunit 401 and of the squeegee unit 402 are open and each exhibit asection 471, 472 which tapers inwards in the form of a truncatedcircular cone. These sections 471, 472 of the handles 404, 408 of thetwo units 401, 402 may form an identical, outwardly opening cone angle.However, the diameter of the inner end of the conical end section 471 ofthe cleaning unit 401 is dimensioned to be smaller than the diameter ofits otherwise approximately cylindrical cavity, this resulting in theformation of an annular shoulder 473, which can serve as a stop for arear end 474 of the handle 408 of the squeegee unit 402. On the otherhand, the internal diameter of an opening 475 in the rear end 474 of thehandle 408 of the squeegee unit 402 is smaller than the internaldiameter of the inner annular shoulder 473 in the handle 474 of thecleaning unit 401, with the result that the rear end 474 of the handle408 of the squeegee unit 402 forms an inner annular shoulder which,although it rests partially against the annular shoulder 476 then thetwo units 401, 402 have been pushed together, projects radially inwardsbeyond said annular shoulder 476. Consequently, the two conical endsections 471, 472 of the handles 404, 408 of the two units 401, 402 aregraduated with respect to one another in terms of diameter and may servefor receiving, directly or indirectly, an actuating rod for working withthe combined hand-held implement 400 or for working in each case withonly the cleaning unit 401 or with only the squeegee unit 402.

We claim:
 1. A hand-held implement for cleaning smooth surfaces and forwiping washing liquid from the surfaces, the implement comprising acleaning unit including a cleaning member, a carrier for the cleaningmember, and a handle, which extends from the carrier for the cleaningmember, the implement further comprising a squeegee unit including asqueegee member, a carrier for the squeegee member, and a handle, whichextends from the carrier for the squeegee member and defines alongitudinal axis, the squeegee member being arranged at the front endof the handle of the squeegee member and extending transversely withrespect to the longitudinal axis, the implement further comprising meansfor connecting the cleaning and squeegee units to one another in areleasable manner, at the handles of the cleaning and squeegee units andat the carriers of the cleaning and squeegee units, so that the cleaningand squeegee units are also capable of being used separately.
 2. Thehand-held implement according to claim 1, wherein the connecting meansprovides a releasable connection between the handle of the cleaning unitand the handle of the squeegee unit.
 3. The hand-held implementaccording to claim 1, wherein the connecting means provides a releasableconnection of the cleaning unit to the squeegee unit, between thecarriers for the cleaning member and the squeegee member.
 4. Thehand-held implement according to claim 3, wherein the handle of thecleaning unit has a front end and defines a longitudinal axis andwherein the carrier for the cleaning member is a wiper plate which isfastened at the front end of the handle of the cleaning unit so as toextend transversely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the handleof the cleaning unit, and which has a front edge, and which has a stopsurface along the front edge, the stop surface bearing against thesqueegee unit when the cleaning unit is connected to the squeegee unit.5. The hand-held implement according to claim 4, wherein the stopsurface of the wiper plate is defined by at least one cutout on thefront edge of the wiper plate.
 6. The hand-held implement according toclaim 5, wherein the front edge of the wiper plate has a width and thecutout is provided midway along the width of the front edge of the wiperplate, the squeegee unit including a squeegee mount revived by thecutout when the cleaning unit is connected to the squeegee unit, thesqueegee member including a guide rail fastened removably to thesqueegee mount, the squeegee unit including a squeegee lip held by theguide rail.
 7. The hand-held implement according to claim 6, wherein thesqueegee mount is arranged transversely with respect to the longitudinalaxis defined by the handle the squeegee unit, at the front end of thehandle of the squeegee unit, and is provided with a stop strip coatingwith the stop surface of the wiper plate of the cleaning unit.
 8. Ahand-held implement according to claim 7, wherein the handle of thecleaning unit has a rear end and wherein the stop strip, beinghook-shaped in cross-section, is directed toward the rear end of thehandle of the cleaning unit.
 9. A hand-held implement according to claim1, wherein the means for connecting the cleaning and squeegee units toone another in a releasable manner, at the handles of the cleaning andsqueegee units.
 10. A hand-held implement according to claim 9, whereinthe locking device comprises means for effecting a plug-in connectionbetween the handles of the cleaning unit and of the squeegee unit.
 11. Ahand-held implement according to claim 10, wherein the handle of thesqueegee unit defines an engagement part and wherein the handle of thecleaning unit defines a receiving part, which is arranged to receive theengagement part of the handle of the squeegee part, so as to effect theplug-in connection.
 12. A hand-held implement according to claim 11,wherein the receiving part defined by the handle of the cleaning unitand the engagement part defined by the handle of the squeegee unitextend respectively along parts of the respective handles.
 13. Ahand-held implement according to claim 11, wherein the receiving partand the engagement part are provided at rear portions of the handles ofthe cleaning unit and of the squeegee unit.
 14. A. hand-held implementaccording to claim 11, wherein the receiving part is provided in anupper portion of the cleaning unit and wherein the engagement part isprovided at a lower portion of the squeegee unit.
 15. A hand-heldimplement according to claim 11, wherein the receiving part in the upperportion of the cleaning unit defines a hollow which is U-shaped incross-section.
 16. A hand-held implement according to claim 15, whereinthe cross-sectionally U-shaped hollow of the receiving part has a widthand extends, in a longitudinal direction along the cleaning unit, over alength which is dimensioned to be greater than the width of the U-shapedhollow.
 17. A hand-held implement according to claim 15, wherein thehandle of the cleaning unit has a front end and wherein the U-shapedhollow is tapered conically and narrows toward the front end of thehandle of the cleaning unit.
 18. A hand-held implement according toclaim 15, wherein the engagement part of the squeegee unit has a frontend portion and a rear end portion and wherein the receiving part of thecleaning unit, at the hollow defines a front stop for the front endportion of the engagement part of the squeegee unit and a rear stop forthe rear end portion of the engagement part of the squeegee unit.
 19. Ahand-held implement according to claim 11, wherein, as seen inlongitudinal section, the receiving part of the cleaning unit has sidesurfaces which at least partially bound the hollow and which define anacute angle which opens towards the upper portion of the cleaning unit.20. A hand-held implement according to claim 10, wherein the handle ofthe cleaning unit is generally tubular with a cavity having an internaldiameter and with an open front end defining a plug-in opening, whereinthe handle of the squeegee unit is generally cylindrical and has anexternal diameter corresponding approximately to the internal diameterof the generally tubular handle of the cleaning unit, and wherein thegenerally cylindrical handle of the squeegee unit plugs into the cavityof the generally tubular handle of the cleaning unit in a telescopingmanner.
 21. A hand-held implement according to claim 20, furthercomprising means including a latching device for locking the cleaningunit and the squeegee unit as a hand-held combination when the generallycylindrical handle of the squeegee unit is plugged into the cavity ofthe generally tubular handle of the cleaning unit in a telescopingmanner.
 22. A hand-held implement according to claim 21, wherein thegenerally tubular handle of the cleaning unit has a front portiondefining an upwardly opening cutout, which encloses a portion of theplug-in opening for the generally cylindrical handle of the squeegeeunit, which is curved forwards and downwards, starting from a horizontalcenter longitudinal plane through the cleaning unit, and which isadapted for receiving a part of the squeegee member and a part of thehandle of the squeegee unit.
 23. A hand-held implement according toclaim 20, wherein the handle of the cleaning unit has a transverse wallterminating the internal cavity at a rear end of the internal cavity,wherein the handle of the cleaning unit extends rearwards from thetransverse wall and is provided at the rear end of the cavity with anaxial opening extending rearwards of the transverse wall, the axialopening being adapted for receiving and fastening an auxiliary device.24. A hand-held implement according to claim 23, wherein the handle ofthe cleaning unit has a rear opening and the handle of the squeegee unithas a rear opening and wherein the rear openings of the respectivehandles are arranged directly one behind the other in an axial directionwhen the cleaning and squeegee units are in an assembled state, in whichthe cleaning and squeegee units are connected to one another, wherebythe rear openings of the respective handles together from an openingwhich tapers, in the form of a truncated circular cone, in a frontwardsdirection and which is adapted for receiving an auxiliary device.
 25. Ahand-held implement according to claim 9, wherein each of the handles ofthe cleaning unit and of the squeegee unit has a rear end and whereinthe locking device is provided at the rear ends of the respectivehandles of the cleaning unit and of the squeegee unit.
 26. A hand-heldimplement according to claim 25, wherein the rear end of the handle ofthe cleaning unit defines a locking sleeve with a through-opening,wherein the rear end of the engagement part of the squeegee unit definesan axial recess, wherein the through-opening of the locking sleeve andthe recess of the squeegee unit form a coaxial locking opening, andwherein the hand-held implement further comprises a locking boltinserted into the locking opening.
 27. A hand-held implement accordingto claim 26, wherein the locking opening has an inner wall which istapered conically toward a front portion of the axial recess in theengagement part of the squeegee unit and wherein the locking bolt has aconical form which approximately corresponds to the locking opening. 28.A hand-held implement according to claim 26, wherein the locking bolthas an outer end which is open and which is provided with an internalthread into which an auxiliary device can be screwed.
 29. A hand-heldimplement according to claim 1, wherein the handle of the cleaning unitdefines a longitudinal groove in front of the receiving part, whereinthe hand-held implement further comprises a securing device whichincludes a first part provided on the cleaning unit and a second partprovided on the squeegee unit, and wherein the first and second parts ofthe securing device interact in order to prevent the squeegee unit andthe cleaning unit from moving laterally relative to one another when thecleaning and squeegee units are in an assembled state, in which thecleaning and squeegee units are connected to one another.
 30. Ahand-held implement according to claim 29, wherein the interacting partsof the securing device define a groove/tongue connection between therespective handles of the cleaning unit and of the squeegee unit andwherein the interacting parts of the securing device extends axiallywith respect to the longitudinal axis defined by the handle of thesqueegee unit.
 31. A hand-held implement for cleaning smooth surfacesand for wiping washing liquid from the surfaces, the implementcomprising a cleaning member provided with a handle and a squeegeemember provided with a handle having a front end and defining alongitudinal axis, the squeegee member being arranged at the front endof the handle of the squeegee member and extending transversely withrespect to the longitudinal axis, wherein the cleaning member is a partof a cleaning unit and the squeegee member is a part of a squeegee unit,the implement further comprising means including at least one fasteningdevice for connecting the cleaning and squeegee units to one another ina releasable manner so that the cleaning and squeegee units are alsocapable of being used separately, the cleaning unit including a wiperplate having a stop surface, the squeegee unit including a tubularsqueegee mount, the squeegee member including a guide rail fastenedremovably to the tubular squeegee mount, the squeegee unit including asqueegee lip held by the guide rail, wherein the connecting meanscomprises a latching device with latching lugs, which project from thestop surface of the wiper plate of the cleaning unit, and which coactwith corresponding latching recesses in the tubular squeegee mount. 32.The hand-held implement according to claim 31, wherein the releasablefastening device for connecting the cleaning unit and the squeegee unitprovides a frictionally locking connection between the cleaning andsqueegee units.
 33. The hand-held implement according to claim 32,wherein the frictional locking connection is a tongue and grooveconnection.
 34. The hand-held implement according to claim 33, whereinthe squeegee unit has a squeegee head unitary with and extendingtransversely from at a front portion of the squeegee head and whereinthe releasable locking device comprises tongues projecting from anunderside of the squeegee head and connected to a rear side of thesqueegee mount.
 35. The hand-held implement according to claim 34,wherein the tongues are connected to the rear side of the squeegee mountby flexible connecting webs which are narrower than the tongues.
 36. Thehand-held implement according to claim 34, wherein the tongue and grooveconnection is a dovetail connection.
 37. The hand-held implementaccording to claim 36, wherein the tongues have an overall height asmeasured from the underside of the squeegee head and wherein each of thetongues is widened into a dovetail shape extending over onlyapproximately a bottom third of the overall height as measuredtherefrom.
 38. The hand-held implement according to claim 34, whereinthe squeegee head has a head wall, from which two said tongues project,wherein each of said two tongues has a side surface spaced from andfacing the side surface of the other one of said two tongues, andwherein the squeegee head has a groove extending in a direction parallelto the longitudinal axis defined by the handle of the squeegee member,the groove being bounded by the head wall of the squeegee head and bythe side surfaces of said two tongues, and wherein the side surfaces ofsaid two tongues open downwardly from the upper wall at an acute angle.39. The hand-held implement according to claim 38, wherein the cleaningunit has a guide tongue extending axially with respect to the axisdefined by the handle of the cleaning unit, separating the grooves ofthe cleaning unit, and serving for engagement into the groove of thesqueegee head.
 40. The hand-held implement according to claim 39,wherein the handle of the cleaning unit has a front end and wherein eachof the grooves has a front, open end and a rear, closed end and istapered from the front, open end to the rear, closed end at the frontend of the handle of the cleaning unit, such that the tongues of thesqueegee unit take up a clamping fit when received by the grooves of thecleaning unit.
 41. The hand-held implement according to claim 34,wherein the cleaning unit is provided with grooves which serve toreceive the tongues projecting from the underside of the squeegee head.42. The hand-held implement according to claim 32, wherein the handle ofthe squeegee unit has an outer wall, wherein the handle of the cleaningunit is hollow and has an inner wall, and wherein the handle of thecleaning unit defines a plug-in opening arranged to receive the handleof the squeegee unit and to provide a frictionally locking connectionbetween the outer side of the handle of the squeegee unit and the innerwall of the hollow handle of the cleaning unit.
 43. The hand-heldimplement according to claim 42, wherein squeegee head has a frictionalsurface and wherein the hollow handle of the cleaning unit has a border,which encloses the plug-in opening of the handle of the cleaning unitand which has a frictional surface that coacts with the frictionalsurface of the squeegee head, when the handle of the squeegee unit ispushed into the hollow handle of the cleaning unit via the plug-inopening, such that a front length section of the outer side of thehandle of the squeegee unit can be pressed in a frictionally lockingmanner against a front length section of the inner wall of the cleaningunit.
 44. The hand-held implement according to claim 42, wherein thesqueegee head has a rear, increasingly narrow nose projecting rearwardlyand outwardly from the outer side of the handle of the squeegee unit,having an end surface that is rounded, and two guide surfaces, one oneach side of the nose, of the squeegee head exhibits an end surfacewhich, from its upper edge which is round in plan view, projects, in theform of a cylindrical cutout in the circumferential direction of thehandle, rearwards with respect to the outer side of the handle and isbounded by guide surfaces, on the two longitudinal sides, and whereinthe border of the plug-in opening of the hollow handle of the cleaningunit has an inwardly and rearwardly directed bevel conforming to the endand guide surfaces of the nose so as to align the cleaning and squeegeeunits when the handle of the squeegee unit is pushed into the hollowhandle of the cleaning unit via the plug-in opening.